By Desire Emmanuel
A woman who conspired with others and organised her own kidnap in order to collect the sum of N50 million from her husband has been arrested by men of the Edo State Police Command alongside her conspirators.
The woman, Mrs Oluchi Ugbowan, was arrested by men of the command a few days after planning the fake kidnap.
It was gathered that on June 1, the woman’s husband, Mr. Tony Ugbowan, reported at the command that his wife, aged 45 years, was kidnapped on her way to her shop at Ramat Park along Agbor Road. He also told police officers that he received a call from a hidden telephone number demanding a ransom of N50 million for her release.
Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit commenced a discreet investigation, deploying both intelligence and technical resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnap.
Their thorough investigation led to the arrest of one Israel Ability and during his arrest, the mobile phone belonging to the woman was recovered from him.
Upon his interrogation, the man confessed that he was contracted by Mrs. Ugbowan to negotiate ransom with her husband while falsely presenting her as a kidnapped victim.
Further investigation subsequently led operatives to a hotel in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State on June 5, where Mrs. Ugbowan was arrested.
During her interrogation, she confessed to staging her own kidnap and thereafter led investigators to the residence of an accomplice in Delta State, one Ochukwudem Uwadia.
Investigation revealed that the residence was used as the location where videos depicting the victim with tied hands and feet were recorded and circulated to family members as proof of captivity.
The woman further disclosed that Uwadia’s son, Chibuzor Ochukwudem, aged 18 years, was the individual seen in the videos pointing a gun to her head in order to further lend credence to the false kidnapping narrative.
All the persons in connection to the fake kidnapping plan have been arrested while a search conducted at the premises led to the recovery of the gun used in the ransom videos.
The woman and other arrested persons have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation after which they are expected to be charged to court.
